Popcorn machine



NOV- w3. J. R. @URCM 34,32

POPCORN MACHINE Filed July 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheei l MPOP CORN TTOEA/EY Nov.. l, 1938. J. R. EURCH 2934682 v PoPcoRN MACHINE Filed July 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f? fro/@MEV Patented Nov. l, 193,8

UNITED 4 STATES PATENT ol-FjlClI 2,134,682 .y rorcoRN y .ranas/1t. Burch, se' Louis. Mo.

, Application July/25, lessfserm No'. 92,529

'Ihis invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in popcorn machines. My invention has for itsprimary object the provision, in a machine of the character described, of a popping kettle incorporating means for thermostatieally controlling the,` temperature of the kettle.

My invention .has for another of its objects the provision, in a machine of the character described, of a, swingable popping kettle latchingly supported and provided with means integrally in- Yto corporated with the kettle-structure for thermostatically controlling the temperature of the kettle and for automatically signalling when the temperature of the kettle has reached a. selected degree.

My invention has for still another object the provision, in a machinel of the character described, of a popping kettle having a plurality of vent-means uniquely disposed for non-interference with the moving parts of the machine.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (two sheets) Figure 1 is a perspective view, on a reduced scale, of a corn-popping machine of my invention, the lower portion of the enclosing cabinet or shell thereof being broken away;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the corn popping kettle and its associated parte taken. approximately along the line 2`-2, Figure t;

Figure 3 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical circuits employed in the heating and controlling devices associated with the corn popping kettle; and

l'igurefi is a vertical sectional view of the corn popping kettle and its associated parts takenA slightly below the top wall I, is preferably a channel-iron member 6, best seen in 41=iigure 4, from which the popping kettle 1 and its associated mechanism are dependingly supported.

`vertically downwardly extending. from the under side of the support 6, is a rigid kettle hanger 8, which includes a preferably integrally formed (ci. 21a- 44) housing 8 and a pair of opposed arms I0 and II, horizontally extending between the lower vextrem-- itiesof which latter is a preferably integrally formed cross-member I3, in turn, provided with a centrally disposed opening Il through which an agitator shaft I5 rotatably projects for operation in the kettle l.

The cross-member I3 is suitably provided with a pair of spaced openings I6 and I'I for receiving vertically disposed vent pipes I8 and I9, respectively, which areconnected through elbows 2l) and 2|, respectively, tothorizontal vent pipe sections 22 and 23, respectively, which latter are, in turn, 'connected to vertical outlet pipes '24 and 25, respectively, opening at their extremities to atmosphere.

Preferably integrally formed with and downwardly extending from the cross-member I3 beneath arm II, is a pivot-shoulder 26, juxtaposed to which, on thelower portion of the arm I0 for cooperation with a detent 28 and a releasing member 29 operatively mounted on the kettle 'I, is a kettle latch assembly 21, the latch assembly 2l, detent 2t, and releasing member 29 being constructed and operating substantially in accordance with the disclosures and claims of Letters Patent No. 1,961,812, issued to me on June 5. 1934.

The kettle i is provided with a preferably integrally formed 'shoulder tt, through the upper portion of which ls disposed a pin ti for pivotal engagement with the pivot-shoulder tt. Rigidly mounted on, and downwardly extending from, the shoulder tt of the kettle l', is a thermostatic control switch tt, presently more fully described, which is electrically connected on its one side through a multi-wire flexible cable 33 to the electrical circuits disposed in the housing t, and is electrically connected on its other side to a heating element tt, which is rigidly held against the bottom of the kettle l by a plate t5, which, in turn, is rigidly held in place .by suitable screw members it, 3l.

A shell or kettle housing t3 is rigidly mounted around the bottom and outside of the kettle 'I and is held in position by a plurality of cap-screws 39, which threadingly engage the bottom plate member 35, thus completely enclosing the electrical elements of the kettle and protecting the same from exposure to grease, dirt, and other harmful agents.

The thermostat control element, as best seen in Figure 2, comprises an integral frame or housing Ml, in which is operably mounted a contact-point 4I and a flexible switch arm 42. At the free eX- tremity of the vflexible switch arm 42, is another contact point 43 for circuit completing engagement with the contact-point 4I. The contactarm 42 is shifted or moved into and out of engagement with the contact-point 4I by means of a reclprocablepin 44, which is actuated by a iloating plate 45, which is normally springpressed into a forward position, so that the plunger or pin 44 will, in turn, normally force the contact arm 42 and the contact point 43 thereon into circuit closing engagement with the contact point 4I.l

The floating plate 45 is rigidb attached to one end of ametallic diaphragm 45, which is operably casing v5l), which is mounted on the housing 45.

A threaded shaft 5I, fixed at an end in a graduated knob 52, is rotatably mounted in the shell 55 and operably engages the metallic diaphragm'45 in such manner as to move or shift the dlaphragm-oating plate assembly toward or away from the housing' 40 responsive to longitudinal translation .of thethreaded shaft 5|.

As the temperature of the kettle increases, the fluid contained in the tube 45, the conduit'41, and the diaphragm 45 will expand, thereby causing the diaphragm 45 to enlarge and draw the oating plate 45 backwardly away from the housing 40, thereby moving the contact arm 42 and its associated contact point 43 away from the contact point 4I and breaking the circuit.

' It will notedy that, by rotatingthe knob 52:. the

diaphragm-floating plate assembly may be moved within the shell to various selectedpositions, from which greater or lesser movement will be required for circuit breaking. Thus, obviously,

the amount of expansion in the diaphragm system and consequently the temperature at which the circuit will be broken may be adjustably set.

In the housing 9, is mounted a small incandescent lamp 53 preferably having a load value of six watts or less. Also mounted in the housing 5, is a switch 54, and preferably disposed in one end of the housing 9 is a female element of a three-wire separable plug, the male element 55 of which is mounted on the free end of the flexible multi-wire cable 33.' Finally, a conventional electric motor 51 isu'igidly mounted on the housing 9 and yis connected through a conventional train of gears for driving the agitator I4.

The electrical circuits, connecting the various elements above described, may best be seen by reference to Figure 3. A pair of lead-in wires 55 and 5I are connected to some conventional source of power (not shown). The motor 51 is connected across the leads 55 and 5I through lines 52 and 53, a suitable switch 54 being inserted preferably in the line 53. The lead 5i is connected directly to thecontact member 55 in the female separable plug member 55. The lead 50 is connected to one side of the switch 54, the other side of the switch 54 being connected by the line 55 to another contact member 51 in the femaleseparable plug member 55. Connected to the line 55is the lead 55, which is connected to one terminal of the incandescent lamp 53, Whose other terminal is connected by the lead 59 to a third Contact member 15 of the female separable plug member 55. Contact blades 1|, 12, and 13 are mounted in the male element 55 of the separable plug and are adapted to make electrical contact with the contact members 55, 10, and 51. respectively, in the female element of the separable plug 55 whe'nthe two elements of the separable plug are connected together. The contact blade 1I is connected by a Alead 11 directly to one terminal of the heater elements I4. The contact blade 13 is connected by the lead 14 to the contact arm 42. The contact point 4I is connected by a lead 15 to the other terminal lof the heating elements 34. The thermostat control is diagrammaticaily indicated at 44, 45, 41, and 45 to show the physical connection between 'the thermostatic control,

member and the contact arm 42 for actuating said contact arm responsively to the temperature of the heater elements 34, as has been previously described. 1

Thus, it will be seen that the motor 51 may be energized by closing the switch 54, thereby actuating the agitator member l 5. Likewise, the switch 54 may be closed, thus completing the circuit to the heater elements 34. Since the kettle 1 is initially cold, the thermostatic control ele| ment will hold the contact-arm 42 ln circuit completing position, as above described. Thus, the current will flow into the heater elements 34 and heat the kettle. The incandescent lamp 53 is, in eil'ect, connected across the line 55, so that, when the current is ilowing from the lead 55 through the contact-,arm 42 and the lead 15 to the-heater elements 34, no current will ilow into the lamp 53. When the temperature of the kettle 1 reaches the point at which the thermostatic control is set, the circuit will be broken and no further heating of the kettle 1 will occur. At this time, the current will flow from the switch 54 through the lead 55 to one side of the lamp 53, while the other side of the lamp 53 will be electrically connected through the lead 59 and the lead 15 through the heater elements 34 to the lead 13, which is, in tum, connected to the main lead-in connection or wire 5l, thus completing a circuit to the lamp 53, whereby the lamp 53 will be energized. Since the lamp 53 has a very low load value, such as six watts, for instance, while theheater elements 34 have a very high load value, such as 2200 watts, for instance, the lamp 53 will draw so little current through the heating elements 34, when the circuits are in lamp lighting arrangement, that the heating elements 34 will give oif no measurable amount of heat and will instead act more or less as an electrical conductor in the lamp lighting circuit. When the temperature of the kettle 1 drops to such a point that the thermostat will move the contact-arm 42 into circuit closing position, the current will again flow through the lead 55 directly to the heating elements 34 and, in effect, by-pass aroundthe incandescent lamp 53, whereupon the lamp 53 will cease to burn.

As the popcorn is popped in the kettle, it increases in size and gives off some steam and smoke. It has, therefore, been found desirable, although not necessary, to provide a pair of semi-circular plate members (such as that shown at 8i in Figure 1) hingedly connected to the support and adapted to lie in the plane of the top of the kettle, providing a removable closure for the top of the kettle. These plates can be suitably weighted so that, as the popping corn in the kettle increases in volume, it will be necessary for the corn to exert a predetermined amount of upward pressure against the lid members in order to force them open.

In operation, the knob 52 on the thermostatic control is rotated so as to set the thermostatic control for a desired temperature, preferably 450 F., as indicated on the graduatedscale thereof. As soonl as the temperature of the kettle 'I has reached the desired temperature, the thermostat will operate to shut oi the current and turn on the lamp 53, as above described, thereby indicating that the kettle 'I isready for popping operation, at which time al suitable quantity of popcorn may be placed in the kettle 'I 'and i the agitator I turned on by closing the switch latch assembly 21 is disengaged from the detent member 28 by manually operating the latch release mechanism 29, whereupon the entire kettle 1. and its associated parts will .swing downwardly about the pivot pin 3| to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 for discharging 4the finished popcorn into the bottom of the popping chamber B.

The present invention thus provides a new and unique type of popcorn machine in which the kettle may be pivotally swung to discharge the contents thereof readily and easily, and, at the same time, aiord an entire thermostatic control,

assembly mounted on and movable with the kettle in such a way that there will be no danger of breakage or wear in the thermostat assembly. The present invention also provides a new and improved popcorn machine in which signalling means is provided for indicating the exact time at which the kettle is ready for the popping operation. Thus, popcorn machines, made in accordance with the present invention, are economical, easy to operate, and use a minimum quantity of electricity. Guesswork and waste are eliminated, inasmuch as popcorn is placed in the kettle exactly at the proper time and temperature, resulting thereby in less burnt seasoning and poorly popped corn, and makes it possible for even an inexperienced operator to prepare delicious, crisp popcorn and do so uniformly with each successive batch. f

The agitator shaft I5vmay be extended upwardly through the channel support member 6 and the top wall I anda rotatable advertising sign 80 ragidly mounted thereon. The vent pipes I8 and I9 are connected, as above described, to the outlet pipes 24 and 25, respectively, so that the vent outlets will be radially displaced a suicient distance away `from the agitator shaft I5, thereby avoiding any interference with the rotating ad-A vertising sign 80. A i

It will be understood that changes and modiflcations in the form, construction, arrangement,

and combination of the several parts of the machine may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In 'a popcorn machine, in combination, a`

2.- In a popcorn machine, in combination, a support, a kettle having an integrally formed shoulderon and extending radially outwardly from its peripheral edge, means on the support for pivotally engaging the shoulder, a heating element mounted on the kettle, diaphragm-operated control means mounted on the shoulder having operatively connected thereto a gas-lled tube mounted rigidly on the kettle, for thermostatically controlling the temperature of the heating means, detent means rigidly formed on the peripheral edge of the kettle diametrically opposite the shoulder, and releasable latch means on` the support for releasably engaging the detent means.

3. In a popcorn machine, a unitary bracket member including an upper horizontally disposed box-like housing, a pair of downwardly extending arms, and a lower cross-member extending horizontally therebetween, one of said arms having a pivot shoulder formed adjacent its lower extremity, the other of said arms having a spring-actuated detent catch operatively mounted-adjacent its lower extremity, and a kettle swingably suspended from the pivot shoulder at a point adjacent its upper peripheral edge and having a detent Ashoulder formed on its upper peripheral edge in diametric juxtaposition tc the point o! suspension for engagement with the detent catch.

4. In a popcorn machine, in combination, a

. support, a kettle having an integrally formed shoulder on and extending radially outwardly from its peripheral edge, pivot-forming means on the support for pivotally engaging the shoulder, a heating element mounted inthe kettle, dia.- phragm-operated thermostatic control means mounted on the shoulder and spaced away from the body of the kettle to provide for free circulation of air between the control means and the kettle, and a gas-filled thermostat actuating element mounted rigidly on the kettle adjacent the heating element.

5. In a popcorn machine, in combination, a support, a kettle having an integrally formed shoulder on and extending radially outwardly from its peripheral edge, pivot-forming means on the support for pivotally engaging the shoulder, a. heating element mounted in the kettle, diaphragm-operated thermostatic control means mounted on the shoulder and spaced away from the body of the kettle to provide for free circulation of air between the control means and the kettle, a gas-filled thermostat actuating element mounted rigidly on the kettle adjacent the heating element, detent means rigidly formed on the peripheral edge of the kettle diametrically oppo.- site the shoulder, and releasable latch means on the support for rleasably engaging the detent 'mean.S.

support, a kettle having an integrally formedshoulder on and extending radially outwardly from its peripheral edge, pivot-forming means on the snpportfor pivotally engaging the shoulder, a heating element mounted in the kettle, diaphragm-operated thermostatic control Vmeans mounted on the shoulder adjacent the pivot- `forming means and spaced away from the body of the kettle to provide for free circulation of air between the control means and the kettle, and a gas-filled thermostat actuating element mounted rigidly on the kettle adjacent the heating element.

JULIAN R. BURCH. 

